Modeling is one of those dreams that many girls and women share, but few get the opportunity to live out.

For one Baker University student, the dream has a chance to be a reality because of a piece of paper.

“This opportunity has been amazing,” junior Madison Mater said. “It’s one of those things that no one expects, but this fell in my lap with a flyer and I’m so thankful for it.”

Mater has participated in a modeling contest with Maurices clothing store for two years.

“The first year participating in the contest, I finished as the runner-up, which is why I decided to do the contest again,” Mater said. “I was so close last time, why not?”

The Maurices modeling contest is a long process started by a submission of photographs and an application. From that, the number of contestants in the competition is cut down.

“After the cut, the fate of people like me is in the hands of online voters,” Mater said. “Everyone at Baker and my family and friends from home have been really supportive of me by voting online for me to be able to continue.”

For Madison’s mother, Kim Mater, the process has been a life changing experience for Madison.

“This contest has been a confidence booster for not just Madison, but other girls in the contest as well, I’m sure,” Kim said. “That is something she will be able to take with her wherever she goes in life. I’m so proud of Madison.”

To make it through the online voting stage of the process, Madison depended on the power of Facebook.

“The Baker community and my family and friends at home have all been faithful in voting online every day,” Madison said. “Many of my friends have reposted the link to vote on their Facebook pages to spread the word. Now random people that I don’t even know on campus will come up to me and say ‘I voted, good luck’ and all I can say back is ‘thanks’.”

Junior Chloe Mercer is one student who has helped support Mater by voting for her online throughout the process of the contest.

“I think this contest shows any person can be given unexpected opportunities that can be life changing and we as students and individuals need to be ready to take every opportunity as they come,” Mercer said. “I vote every day for Madison online.”

There are 12 winners at the end of the contest.

The winners receive a trip to participate in a photo shoot.

The trip comes with a makeover, the opportunity to model a season of clothing for Maurices, $7,500 to donate to the charity of choice and a $1,500 gift card to Maurices.

If Mater wins, she plans on donating the $7,500 to the Willow Domestic Violence Center in Lawrence.

Mater is excited to see where the rest of the contest leads.

“Win or lose, I’ve had an amazing time through the process,” Madison said. “But if I win, I have big plans for what I’m going to do with the gift card.”